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Exponents Before Negation

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

An exponent binds to the base directly beneath it, so a leading negative sign waits: −3² means the opposite of 3², which is −9.

Show

Parentheses change the base: (−3)² squares −3 itself and equals 9. The parentheses, not the sign, decide what gets squared.

Builds on

  • Nothing — this is a starting point.

Unlocks

  • Nothing yet depends on this.